Change a calendar's color in three steps

Open Google Calendar in your web browser and look at the left sidebar where your calendars are listed. Find the calendar you want to change — it might say "My calendar" or have a name you gave it. Hover your mouse over that calendar name until three dots appear to the right of it, then click those dots. A menu will pop up with several options, and you'll see "Settings" near the bottom. Click "Settings" to open the calendar's detail page.

On the settings page, scroll down until you see a section labeled "Color" with a row of colored circles. Click any circle to change your calendar to that color. The change happens when ready — you don't need to save or confirm anything. Close the settings page by clicking the back arrow or the X, and you'll see your calendar in the sidebar now displays in the new color.

If you have multiple calendars (for work, personal time, family events), you can give each one its own color so you can spot them at a glance on your calendar view. This is purely visual — the color doesn't change what events are on that calendar or who can see them.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click or hover over any calendar name in the left sidebar, then click the three dots and select "Settings" to reach the color options.
  • The color menu shows a palette of preset colors; click any circle to explore it when ready to that calendar.
  • Changing a calendar's color affects only how it looks on your screen and does not change sharing settings or event details.
  • You can assign different colors to different calendars so work events, personal events, and shared calendars are visually distinct.
  • The color change syncs across all your devices — if you change it on your phone, it will appear the same color on your computer.

Where to find the color option on mobile

If you're using the Google Calendar app on your phone or tablet, the process is slightly different. Open the app and look at the bottom of the screen for a menu icon (three horizontal lines) or tap the calendar name at the top. Swipe down to find the calendar you want to change, then tap the three dots next to its name.

A menu will appear with options including "Settings." Tap "Settings," then scroll to find "Color." The same palette of colors will appear, and you can tap any one to explore it. The change takes effect right away, and the next time you open your calendar on a computer or another device, you'll see the same color there too.

Why colors matter for organizing your calendar

When you have only one calendar, color doesn't do much. But most people end up with several: a work calendar, a personal calendar, maybe a shared family calendar or a calendar for a hobby or volunteer commitment. Without colors, all these events blend together on your screen, and you have to read each one to know which calendar it belongs to.

Assigning a distinct color to each calendar lets you see at a glance how your time is split. You might use blue for work, green for personal time, and orange for shared family events. This visual separation makes it much easier to spot conflicts (a work meeting that overlaps with a family commitment, for example) or to see how much time you're spending on each area of your life.

Changing colors for calendars others share with you

When someone shares a calendar with you — a partner's schedule, a team's project timeline, a friend's availability — that calendar appears in your sidebar under "Other calendars." You can change its color the same way: hover over the name, click the three dots, select "Settings," and pick a new color from the palette.

The color you choose is only for your view. If your partner changes the color of their calendar on their own account, it won't affect the color you see on yours. This means you can organize shared calendars however makes sense to you without changing anything for the person who owns them.

Reverting to the default color

If you change a calendar's color and later want to go back to what it was before, open the calendar's settings the same way (three dots, then "Settings"). In the color palette, one of the circles will have a small checkmark or outline showing it's currently selected. Look for a neutral color like gray or the original color you remember, and click it.

Google Calendar doesn't have an "undo" button for color changes, so you'll need to pick the color you want from the palette. If you're not sure which one was the original, any neutral color will work just fine — the important thing is that you can see the calendar clearly and distinguish it from your other calendars.

Troubleshooting color changes that don't appear

If you change a calendar's color but it doesn't show up in your sidebar or on your calendar view, try refreshing your browser by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R (on Windows) or Command+R (on Mac). Sometimes the page needs to reload to display the new color.

If you're using the mobile app and the color isn't updating, close the app completely and open it again. Make sure you're signed into the same Google account on all your devices — if you have multiple accounts, the calendar might be on a different one than you expect. Check the account switcher (usually a profile picture or initial in the top corner) to confirm you're on the right account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create my own custom color instead of using the preset palette?

No, Google Calendar only offers the preset colors shown in the palette. You cannot create a custom color or upload a hex code. You're limited to the colors Google provides, though the palette includes enough variety that most people can find distinct colors for their different calendars.

Does changing a calendar's color affect what other people see when they view it?

No. The color you see is only on your account. If you share a calendar with someone else or they share one with you, each person can choose their own color for that calendar. The color is a personal preference and doesn't sync between accounts.

What happens to the color if I delete and re-add a calendar?

If you remove a calendar from your account and then add it back later, it will return to its default color. You'll need to change the color again using the same steps. This is why it's worth noting which colors you assigned to which calendars if you think you might remove and re-add them.

Can I change the color of individual events instead of whole calendars?

Yes, but it works differently. Click on any event to open it, then look for a colored circle or dot icon. Click that to change the color of just that one event. This is separate from the calendar color — you can have a blue calendar with some events showing as red or green if you want to highlight specific ones.